Timber setting machine



M y 1952 J. D. A: MORROW TIMBER SETT ING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 20, 1952 M R W 2,597,086

TIMBER SETTING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll ll ll lll lllllllii 12222622202 Jaim 12 2220220212.

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May 20, 1952 J. D. A. MORROW TIMBER SETTING MACHINE 3 Sheets$heet 3 Filed May 10, 1947 Patented May 20, 1952 FATIENT tries TIMBER SETTING MACHINE IohnDl A. Mbrrovv, Sewickley,-'Pa., assi'giior to Joy Manufacturingcompany, a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiicatiorr'May -1c, 1947,v Serial No. 741,221

9 claims.

.This invention relates to'timber setting-ma chinesv and more particularly to an improved adjus-table s-uppertingstructure for the timber receiving support or saddle: of such a machine."

In timbersetting machines of known types, there is-usually provided aportablebody Whichcarries, at one end, a timberrec'eivingsupporter saddle; and mechanism isusually mounted onthebodyrfor adjustingthe timber receiving-support or saddle upwardly relative to the body to, bring a timber supported thereby up against the mine oritunnel'. rootand to hold it there during. setting ofrthe: timber; In order to: reduce the necessityv oi; frequent maneuvering of: the: machinevduring positioning-of. a timber with respect to"-the" place where it isto: be set, it. is desirable to provide for horizontal adjustment ofthe' timber receivingsupport or saddle bothilaterally:andlongitudinab ly'relative to the.. machine body so: atiniber lee-properly positioned and. quickly setiin place. at" various: locationsagainst the min'e. or tunneliroofi The present invention con-templates animproveinentover such known -types-oitimber setting ma'chiries in that improved supporting means? sis provided by .n'iieanst which an e'X- tremeiy wide: rangeot horizontal adjustmentoi. the filfibel' receivin support with respect to t machine body. iisx .aiiordedtn Theimproved s'truc tu re otthe resent. invention accordingly rovices-not only for a-awide range: of upward d justme'nt of thertimber receiving support ors'ad die binz ai'soa wide range or horizontal amuse ment-of the-timber' receiving support, both-.ldngi tudinaii and laterally, relative toithe machine body so thattne ti mber receiving support may be located atan desired-position betweenthe sides ot the ma'chine body at one end. of the latter,'but aiso'nraw bep'ositioned laterally .a-s'ubstantial di'stance beyond the-sides of themachinebody. Such Wide-tangent adju'stfnent of the timber receivin support is attained while theoverall dimensions or the: machine are maintained" at a nii nimum so that' the machine may readily operate the closely restricted quarters of an underground mine- 01 tunnel. i 1 I object otithe presentninvention is-to-prbvi'de anzi mprovedftimber" setting m'achine. Another object to" provide an. improved timber; setting" machine 'having improved adjustable supporting means for the timber receivingsupport or'sadd'le soethat: a timber; may beset-in place at Various locations-against the mine-or tunnel'root-without the'necessityi ofirequent maneuvering: or thema chine as. a whole; Yet another object is to pro videj an improved timber setting. machine having an improvedadjus-table supporting structure for the-timber receiving support for adjusting the latternot only arcuatelybut translationally rela'-- tive to -the machine body. Afurther objectisto provide an improved timber setting machine having and improved extensible" arm or boom structure pivotally mounted on the machine body to swing horizontally,v and carrying. elevating means for the timber receiving support. A'still further,

. object is to provide an-improved adjustable sup-. porting structure for the timber receivingsupport of a timber setting machine for adjusting the support vertically, rectilinearlyand arcuately' relative to the machine bod-y. Still anotherob-- l5 jectis-to-provide an improved horizontally swing-- able; extensiblearm or boom structure-for the elevating: mechanism of the timber receiving sup port whereby the elevating mechanism maybe adjusted not only arcuately "but translationally relative to the machine bodyto vary 'the 'hori' zontal position of the timber receiving support. A further object isto provide an improved tim her setting: machine having a novel combination and arrangement of parts. These-and other'ob jects' and advantagesof the invention will, how'- ever, hereinafter more: fully appear-"inthe course: of the" ensuing; descriptionand aslmore particu larly pointed out in the appended claims.

In theaccompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention-may assume inpractice.

In these drawings:

Fig; 1 isla top plan'jview of a timber setting machine which a preferred forirrof tl'ie mvem tion is embodied one-lateral position-ofthe tim b'er' receiving support being shown in dotted lines.

' Fig; 2 is asid'e elevational view of themachin'e shown Fig ilg vvith thetimber receiving support shown iri different positions asindicated-in full and dottedlines.

Fig 3 is an enlarged view inlongitudinal ver'-- tical section, with parts shown in full}, takensub stantiallyonline 33'of'Fig'. 1. r

Fig; '4 is a longitudinal ve'1' tica1: sectional viewtaken'torr the plane of Fig.3, s'howi ng 'the jaek supporting, arm or'b'cornin fully extended posi-- tion. v V

Fig. '5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of: Fig. 3-, showing detailsof. the ele-' vating and floor'jacks, with the same in collapsed positiom- I r Fig. 6 is ahorizontal sectional view taken sub-- stantially on line 6 t or Fig.3. 7

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken-sub stantially online 1- 1 oi Fig. 3. a

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid system.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the improved adjustable supporting structure for the timber receiving support or saddle is, for illustrative purposes, shown embodied in a timber setting machine of the same general type as that disclosed in an application t L. G. Felderman and A. S. Knoizen, Serial No. 746,832, filed May 8, 1947, although it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in machines of other types.

The timber setting machine as shown herein comprises a portable body I mounted on rubber tired wheels 2, 2 and 3, 3 adapted to travel over the floor of a trackless mine or tunnel. The wheels 3, 3 are traction Wheels and are driven by motors 4, 4 respectively. individual thereto, through suitable transmission connections 5, 5. The wheels 2, 2 are steering wheels, and are suit ably swiveled and provided with suitable steering gear controlled by a hand wheel 6 located at the operators station at one side of the machine. A motor 1 drives a pump 8 to be later referred to. Extending longitudinally centrally of the machine .body between the wheels is a load carrying compartment 9 which is adapted to carry a load of mine timbering elements, such as cross timbers and props. Arranged at one end of the machine body is a timber receiving support or saddle l0, positionable to receive a timber moved lengthwise from the body compartment 9. The improved adjustable supporting structure I includes a horizontally swingable arm or boom ll, herein arranged on the machine body beneath the load carrying compartment 9 and projecting outwardly beyond one end of the machine body and which carries, at its outer end, a vertical elevating jack l2 and a floor engaging jack [3. The timber receiving support or saddle I is carried by the elevating jack l2. When a mine timber is placed on the saddle I0, with the latter positioned as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the jack I2 may be operated slightly to raise the saddle above the top of the machine body and the timber may then be turned with the saddle into a position crosswise of the machine body at one end of the latter. The jack l2 may then be operated to elevate the saddle to bring the timber up against the roof and to hold it there during setting of the uprights or props, or during insertion of the rib pins.

Now referring more specifically to the improved adjustable supporting structure, it will be noted that the swingable arm or boom H has an inner bearing portion l5 pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot pin I6 suitably secured to the machine body beneath the load carrying compartment, with the pivotal axis located midway between the sides of the machine. The arm or boom structure has a horizontal arm portion l1 projecting horizontally outwardly beyond one end of the machine body; and this arm portion is extensible and comprises an inner arm part l8 and an outer arm part 19 telescopically arranged at 29 within the inner arm part and guided for axial sliding adjustment so that the outer arm part maybe slid rectilinearly relative to the inner arm part. The arm bearing portion 15 is preferably formed integral with the inner arm part l8, and the latter part has an integral right angle arm portion 21 pivotally connected at 22 to one end of a horizontal link 23, herein extending longitudinally of the machine body beneath the load carrying compartment, as shown in Figs.

4 3 and '7. This link is pivotally connected at its opposite end at 24 to a horizontal lever 25, the latter in turn pivotally mounted at 25 at one side of the machine body. Pivotally mounted at 21 on a cross plate 23 integral with the machine body is a horizontally swingable fluid cylinder 29 containing a reciprocable piston 30 having its piston rod 3| pivotally connected at 32 to the lever 25. Thus, when the piston 39 is moved under the influence of fluid pressure in the cylinder 29, the outwardly projecting arm H may be swung about its pivot through the lever 25, link 23 and arm portion 2| horizontally across one end of the machine body from one side of the machine body to the other. The machine body has a horizontal end-projection 33 provided with an arcuate end 34, and the inner arm part l8 has integral upper and lower projections 35 and 36 which respectively overlie and underlie the curved end 34 of the body projection 33 for guiding the arm during horizontal swinging thereof and to provide an outer arm support. Arranged longitudinally within the arm near the bearing portion I5 is a horizontal fluid cylinder 31 extending longitudinally of the arm portion IT as clearly shown in 'Fig. 6. The cylinder 31 is secured at 38 to the inner arm part 3 and contains a reciprocable piston 39 having its piston rod 49 extending outwardly through one end of the cylinder and secured at M at its outer end to the outer arm part l9. Thus, when the piston 39 is moved under the influence of pressure fluid in the cylinder 31, the outer arm part 19 may be moved axially relative to the inner arm part to increase or decrease the length of the arm portion H as desired. When fluid is trapped in the cylinder 31, the outer arm part 19 is rigidly locked in axially adjusted position.

The timber elevating jack l2 may assume various forms and is herein similar to that disclosed in the application above referred to, and comprises a vertical fluid cylinder 43 rigidly secured to an outer frame portion integral with the outerend of the arm part l9 of the arm II, as shown in Fig. 5. Contained in the vertical cylinder 43. is a series of piston and cylinder sections 45, 46 and 41, herein arranged in telescopic relation and each having a tubular piston rod portion. Reciprocable in the bore48 of the inner section 41 is a piston 49 having a piston rod 50. The outer cylinder 43 and the sections 45, 46 and 41 respectively carry suitable packings 5|, 52, 53 and 54, sealingly engaging the several piston rod peripheries to prevent leakage. exhausting fluid from these several cylinders will latex-be fully explained. Secured at 55 to the upper end of the piston rod 50 of the inner piston 49 is the timber receiving support or saddle ID. This support or saddle has a timber receiving platform 56 which is resiliently and tiltably mounted on a lower support 51 so that the saddle may have limited endwise tilt relative to the jack to compensate for the unevenness of a roof against which a cross timber is to be placed. The timberreceiving support or'saddle i0 may be turned with the inner piston rod 50 about the vertical axis of the'elevating jack l2 to locate the saddle in its various positions. The floor engaging jack [3 includes a vertical fluid cylinder 58, carried by the arm-frame portion 44 near the elevating jackand containing a reciprocable piston 59 having its piston rod 60 extending downwardly through the lower cylinder head and carrying a footpie'ce 6|. The piston 59 may be The means for supplying fluid to and moved downwardly-under-theinfluenceof pros surefluid in the cylinder 59 to move the-foot piece 61- into -firm engagementwith r the floor, thereby *to' provide astable bottomsupport-for theelevating-jack during the timber setting op oration; Since the specific" structures of these jacks arefully described in the application above referre'dto-and donot p'er-se' enter into the present" invention, further description thereof hereinis unnecessary other than tostate that pressure fluid may be admitted to the jacks-to-elevate-the s'addleifl' and to bring the floorjack t3 down against the floor. As" above --mentioned; the ole vating jack-i2 may be extendedto bring at'imberelevated by'the saddle up againstthe mine ortunnel roofand firmly to hold itthereduringsetting of the timber. When the jack cylindersare suitably connected to discharge; the jacks will;

of course;- automatically collapse;

-The fluidsystem-may assume various forms by-themotor' l has, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8; its intake connected bya conduit 63' toa tanle or reservoir- 66?, herein preferably con taining -a liquid. Thepump discharge con-- heated by conduit -to-the= supply passage of a valve box 66 of "a conventional valve mechanism connee'tedby conduitsl9 "and--- to the-opposite ends ofthe arm-extend-i'ng-cylinder 31 so that fluid may be suppliedto eitherend of thecyl in derthrough' the pressure conduit 65 ,--=While the other end isconnected-to discharge through the discharge conduit- 68. When-the valve isih=neutrai position, both conduits 1d and Sllareclbsed trapping the liquid in thecylinder 3'1 to lock-the piston 39 1 against movement,-' thereby. firmlyto hold the arm- 1 portion 11 in adjusted position. The: bore of the valve box section 'w is connected by a conduit fi i to theupper endof the cylinder 58 oi the floor. engaging jackl3 so-that when fluid is: admitted to theoylinden the: Jack-piston 591 may. be moved downwardly undertheinfluence of pressure fluid to move the footpiece :61}. into:

flrnrengagement. with the floor Conduit. 81 hasa hand. valve 82iwhereby. the-fluidmay beitrappedin; or; discharged -from: the: floor .jaclcscylinden. The .valve box sectionill has;itszbore:connected:v by"a conduit 8-3 to theiupperendof the fluid'scyle inder;.43 of. the elevating jack I2;:and the cone. dui-t. 83-has a hand valve 84 whereby fluid may be trapped in thejack cylinders or; be discharged therefrom as desired. In liewof the hand valves- 82 and 84, the hand valve described in; the :ap-tv plication mentioned above may be employed, .gif desired. The valve box section 72: has. its :.b0re connected by conduits 85 and 8 6 to the opposite. ends of the arm-swing cylinder 29 so that fluid may. be supplied to either end of the cylinder-to.

efiect movement of the piston therein, thereby: to-

swing the arm ll horizontally in one direction:

ortheother about its pivot. Whenthe slide valve 16- isneutral position, both-conduits 85,186. are closed, trapping the fluid-in the cylinder 29:to'1

lock the: pistons. 30, against movement, thereby. firmly: .tdhold thearmil: imposition; The. con-:1

'20 but is herein similar to-thatdescribed-inthe applioationmentionedabove. Thepumpe, driven duits -8| and 83- '-herein extendthroug-h the-tele seopically arranged-hollow sectionsi 8-, l e of-the extensible arrrr'structureasshown inFigs. 3 and 4,- and these conduits have flexible loop or bight portions 81" and BB' arranged in a lateral recess S-S-(see-Fig. 6 formedin a lateralprojection eithe -inner armpart -i it nearthe bearingsupport- &5,- and these flexibleconduit portions may extend outwardly through the open endof thea-rm-and tothe va-lve'mechanisrnfil in any suit-- able-manner; The flexible-eight portions-ct the evident that the several'slidevalves1-3; 14'; liand i6 and-valves- 82'- and dt may be suitably operated to efi ectopposite horizontal swing and extension or retractionot the arm, to effect extension or col-lapseof theelevatingand fioor j acks l 2' and -l 3 andto-eiiect locking of the jacks in extended p0 sition, in an obvious-manner.

' As has been explained; in a timber setting m'achine-ofth-echaracter disclosed, it isofttimes desirable to=ad=frust the timber receivingsupport or' saddle a i E --h'orizontal-ly through a relatively wide rangeboth longitudinally and laterally relative-to the machine body toeliminate the necessity of frequent maneuvering of the machine during proper placing of a timberwith' respect tothe roof; and, in this-improved construction, sueh positioningmay be eiiected by supplying fluid under pressure to the fluid cylinder 31 to extend or-r'etractthearm i l andbysupplying fluid under' pressure tothe'arm-swingcylinder 29 to swing-the armhorizontally about its pivot across onee'nd of themach-ine from one side of the-machinebody- ""13h6'0i3h1; By proper control-oi thearmexten-sion and swing cylinders, thearm it may be adjusted to move the jacks and the timberreceiving support ina horizontal direction both translationallylongitudinally and arcuately laterallywithrespectto the machine body, and by extendingthe' arm structure its full length, the timber receiving support maybe located at a substantial distance beyond the sides of the machine body, as indicated in dotted-lines in Fig. 1. The outermost longitudinal adjusted position of the timber receiving support is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, with the improved arm structure fully extended. When the timber receiving support It) is in the full line position shown inFigs. l and 2 and a timber is suitably positioned thereon, the slide valve 15 may be operated to supply fluid under pressure to the cylinder 43 of the elevating jack l2 to move the jack sections 45, 45, 41 and 50 upwardly to' elevate the saddle H! to bring the cross timber supported thereby up against the roof, and the extended position of the elevating jacks is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the cross timber is suitably positioned against the roof, the hand valve 84 may be closed to trap the fluid in the elevating jack to hold the timber in firm engagement with the roof. As the timber is raised against the roof by the elevating jack, the s1ide-valve-1i may be operated to-supply fluid under pressure to the upperend of the cylinder 58 of thefloor engaging jack to lower the footpiece 6-i- 'i-'ri-to-firm" engagement with the floor, thereby to-provide a stable bottom support for the elevating-jack during setting of the timber. When the footpiece is suitably positioned in con tact-with; the floor, the hand valve 82' may be:

" closed to-:lock the floor.jackinextended position The elevating jack I2 holds the cross timber firmly up against the roof during setting of the uprights or props, or during insertion of the rib pins. It will be evident that the horizontally extensible arm II and timber elevating jack l2 may be located at any position across one end of the machine body and at either side of the machine body, and the timber receiving support may be located laterally beyond the sides of the machine body, thereby reducing the necessity of frequent maneuvering of the machine during the machine or at any desired position across one end of the machine body between the sides thereof. By arranging the extensible arm structure in the manner disclosed and by the provision of the structure for extending and retracting the same, not only is a wide range of adjustment provided but also an extremely sturdy and compact construction is attained. The machine is extremely low in height, well adapted for use in underground mines or tunnels having low headroom. Other manners of use and advantages of the improved timber setting machine will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a timber settin machine, the combination comprising a portable body, a timber-receiving saddle arranged at one end of said body and having a support adapted to receive a mine timber, elevating means for said saddle for raising the latter vertically along a rectilinear path into a position above said body to bring a timber thereon up against the mine roof, and an adjust able supporting structure carried by said body and projecting outwardly beyond said end of said body for supporting said elevating means, said supporting structure adjustable relative to said body to move said elevating means both laterally from one side of said body to the other and translationally in a general longitudinal direction inwardly and outwardly horizontally with respect to said body, to locate said saddle in the desired horizontal position relative to said body prior to theelevation of said saddle.

2. In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, a horizontal extensible arm structure pivotally mounted at its inner end on said body to swing horizontally relative thereto about an upright axis disposed at the longitudinal center of said body, from one side of said body to the other, a timber-receiving saddle disposed at one end of said body and having a support adapted to receive a mine timber,

an elevating mechanism carried at the outer end of said arm structure at said end of said body and by which said saddle is carried, said elevating mechanism being operable to elevate said saddle to bring a timber thereon up against the mine roof, and means for extending and retracting said arm to change its efiective length thereby to vary the horizontal position of said elevating mechanism relative to said body, to move said saddle into the desired horizontal position prior to elevation thereof.

3. In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, a timber-receiving saddle disposed at one end of said body and having a support adapted to receive a mine timber, an elevating mechanism by which said saddle is carried for raising said saddle vertically along a rectilinear path to bring a timber thereon up against the mine roof and for lowering said saddle after the timber has been set against the roof, and an adjustable supporting structure carried by said body and projecting outwardly beyond said end of said body and by which said elevating mechanism is carried, said supporting structure being adjustable to move said elevating mechanism in a horizontal direction both laterally from. one side of said body to the other and generally longitudinally relative to said body while said supporting structure may remain stationary as regards lateral movements to locate said saddle in the desired horizontal position relative to said body prior to raising of said saddle.

4. In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, an extensible and retractable arm structure pivotally mounted at its inner end on said body to swing horizontally relative thereto with its outer end moving across one end or said body from one side thereof to'the other, means for extending and retracting said arm structure to vary its effective length, and an extensible elevating jack carried at the outer end of said arm structure beyond said end of said body for elevating a mine timber up against the r mine roof, said arm structure being swingable horizontally and extendable to vary the horizontal position of said jack, both laterally and generally longitudinally with respect to said body, prior. to the elevating of the mine timber.

5. In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, a timber-receiving saddle disposed at one end of said body andhaving a support adapted to receive a mine timber, and an adjustable supporting structure carried by said body and projecting outwardly from said end of said body for adjusting said saddle in a horizontal direction, both laterally along an arcuate path from one side of said body to the other and along a straight path generally longitudinally relative to said body, and said support ing structure including elevating means for elevating said saddle vertically along a rectilinear path relative to said body to bring a timber thereon up against the mine roof in any of the horizontally adjusted positions of said saddle relative to said body.

6. In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, a timber-receiving saddle disposed at one end of said body and having a support adapted to receive a mine timber, and a horizontal arm pivotally mounted at its inner end on said body and means for confining said arm to swinging movement in horizontal planes to move its outer end in a curvedpath from one side of said body to the other, said arm extensible and retractable to vary its effective length, an elevating structure carried at the outer end of said arm for elevating said saddle a substantial distance above the top of said body to bring a timber thereon up against the mine roof, and means for extending said arm to vary its effective length to move said elevating structure horizontally relative to said body, to locate said saddle in the desired horizontal position prior to elevation thereof.

7. In a timber setting machine of the character set forth in claim 6 wherein said arm is extensible horizontally to project said elevating structure and said saddle a substantial distance laterally beyond the sides of said body.

8. In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, an elongated horizontal extensible arm pivotally mounted at its inner end on the lower portion of said body and projecting outwardly beyond one end of said body, means for swinging said arm horizontally about its pivot to move its outer end arcuately across said end of said body from one side thereof to the other and for holding said arm in its adjusted position, means for extending and retracting the outer portion of said arm to vary the effective length of said arm and for holding the same in its adjusted position, an extensible vertical jack mounted at the outer end of said arm, and a timber-receiving saddle carried by said jack and 1? having a platform adapted to receive a cross mine timber, said arm being swingable and extensible to move said jack both laterally and in a general longitudinal direction relative to said body to vary the location of said saddle, and said jack being operable to elevate said saddle vertically relative to said arm and to said body to bring a timber on said platform up against a mine roof.

10 9.' In a timber setting machine, the combination comprising a portable body, a timber-receiving saddle arranged adjacent to said body, elevating means for said saddle for raising the latter vertically into a position above said body to bring a timber thereon up against the mine roof, and an adjustable supporting structure carried by said body and projecting outwardly beyond said body for supporting said elevating means, said supporting structure being adjustable relativeto said body to move said elevating means both laterally and in any laterally adjusted position of said supporting structure inwardly and outwardly with respect to said body all while the latter remains stationary, to locate said saddle in the desired position relative to said body prior to the elevation of said saddle.

JOHN D. A. MORROW.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 520,488 Morgan, Sr. et al. May 29, 1894 1,440,722 Dunham Jan. 2, 1923 1,755,738 Klepadlo et a1 Apr. 22, 1930 1,908,793 Saeder May 16, 1933 1,945,085 Schellentrager Jan. 30, 1934 2,324,817 Bratley July 20, 1943 2,408,387 Gay et al Oct. 1, 1946 2,430,962 Stamler Nov. 18, 1947 2,456,878 Krupka et al. Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 664,920 Germany Sept. 13, 1938 276,729 Italy Aug. 13, 1930 

